Don’t quit, give back and ski naked
Plus, see what a 13-year-old did that previously seemed impossible
Ear ya go: 7 little kernels of joy from the world of sports.
🏀 Quote
Monty Williams, NBA Coach of the Year with Phoenix in 2022, and now with Detroit, after the Pistons snapped an NBA record-tying 28-game losing streak last week:
“I've been in a ton of locker rooms my whole life, but that's a first for me. Guys were screaming. I was almost in tears. I'm just so happy for our guys and for everyone in the locker room.”
Detroit broke through against Toronto in its last game of 2023, led by young guns Cade Cunningham, 22, and Jalen Duren, 20. Cunningham scored 30 points and assisted on 12 buckets. Jalen Duren added 18 points and 17 rebounds.
“I feel amazing,” Cunningham said. “We just kept battling. It's been a long stretch, all these losses, but I'm just happy to be part of a group of guys who don't quit.”
They gave it their all, the full Monty, some would say. Okay, I would say.
🏈 Story
Broncos’ Bolles makes protection his mission whether it’s blocking for QB or mentoring at-risk kids
By Pat Graham, The Associated Press
Graham chronicles Bolles’ journey from juvenile delinquent in Utah to Denver’s nomination for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award. Bolles has given back by mentoring more than 100 kids in the juvie system. Kinda Bolles you over, right?
🏀 Highlight
Goodness gracious, Caitlin Clark. Let’s just step back and enjoy this deep dagger, shall we?
Or this one from Nikoa Jokić. Nothing like banking on the best players, right?
🕹️ Stat
999999: Tetris score of Willis Gibson, 13, who became the first player to beat the game in its 34-year history
Thirteen can be an awkward age. But after beating Tetris, Gibson should have no trouble fitting in. His friends in Oklahoma might even throw him a block party.
🎿 Groaner
Boot Tan Fest bills itself as the “largest festival on snow for women” and includes a naked lap. Which begs the question: Who would drop trou on the slopes?
Ski bums!
Sorry for the cheeky remark. Hope you can grin and bare it.
🏒 Song
I Don’t Need Your Rocking Chair by George Jones
Zach Hyman don’t need your rocking chair. The 31-year-old just scored his third hat trick of the season Saturday to lead Edmonton to its seventh straight victory. He’s on pace to score 58 goals, which would obliterate his career high (36, last season) and defy analytics, which show that players generally decline in their 30s.
“There’s some part of analytics that I like, but I don’t like that,” Hyman told The Athletic. “You go off the average, and a lot of guys fall off when they’re 30. But there’s no reason you can’t get better.”
George Jones, RIP, would agree. And it’s definitely possible to improve if you once sported a mullet, as some of his bandmates did. Check out the hair, the loud crowd, and George’s baritone in this foot-stomper that came out in 1992, same year Hyman did.
⚽️ Trivia
What club has won the most FA Cups?
Arsenal
Manchester City
Manchester United
Wrexham
Answer below.
Arsenal has won 14 Cups, most of any club in the oldest football tournament in the world.
But not this year. The Gunners lost to Liverpool today in the third round. Of the 124 teams that started this season’s tourney, 32 remain.
Aw shucks. 🌽 That’s it for now. If you can’t ski naked this week, hope you can at least crack a smile. 😊